not for sale
In a village on the shores of the largest man-made lake on the surface of the earth lies a major hub for trafficked children amidst Ghana's fishing industry. Children as young as three are seen as favorable workers because their nimble fingers are able to release small fish from the masses of nets. Often they are put at great risk when forced to untangle nets below the water's surface. Many of these children are given only one meal a day, consisting of a single bowl of gari soaked in the lake water, resulting in undernourishment and serious health-related concerns.
THE SITUATION:
Because of cultural values in Ghana, children frequently grow up in the homes of family members or friends in the community whom their parents view as financially better off. Unfortunately, this custom and ideology provide the basis for the exploitation of children in the Lake Volta region, and traffickers take advantage of the cheap labor offered by these vulnerable kids. Moreover, the dire economic situation forces both parents and traffickers to see only the immediate benefits of forcing these children to work in the fishing industry. They become valued as a source of income and are robbed of the opportunity to receive an education for their future.
THE CRISIS:
Ghana is a source, transit and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficking within the country is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and the majority of victims are children. Both boys and girls are trafficked within Ghana for forced labor in the fishing industry, agriculture, mines, quarries, and as porters, street hawkers and truck pushers. - U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2007
HOPE FOR GHANA'S CHILDREN:
Not For Sale seeks to improve the lives of all children forced to work under such harsh conditions, offering them opportunities for development and education. As a part of these efforts, a safe house will be built in order to educate, protect, and provide community for rescued children trafficked to Lake Volta. In order to ensure the emancipation of the children, micro-loans will be provided to parents or those enslaving the children to compensate for the lost source of income. This will aid in alleviating the economic situation forcing demand for child laborers in the first place, and create a level or sustainability for the children's future. The aftercare and rehabilitation of these trafficked children will involve extensive medical care, basic necessities, and education. The cost of the first twelve months of operation, running at a full capacity of 24 children, will total $60,000. A small price to pay for the lives of these precious kids.
JOIN TODAY!
Your donation will support...
* Construction of a safe house
* Modes of transportation for children to and from the safe house
* Clothing, shoes, toiletries and food
* Education at a nearby private school
* School fees for books, uniforms and school supplies
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